IBM Expands MobileFirst for Developers

Moreover, as part of the IBM MobileFirst Business Acceleration portfolio, IBM announced its new IBM Ready Apps, a suite of industry-specific, preconfigured apps that can save clients up to 60 percent on time and resources. Whether an organization is just getting started or has multiple successful mobile projects under way, the IBM Ready Apps streamline design and enable organizations to customize their app once and deploy it to any platform or device. Organizations can also tailor the look and feel of apps and add features using built-in integration with common industry APIs.
IBM Ready Apps include those for banking, retail, health care, insurance, travel and transportation, government and connected devices.
Other IBM Ready Apps such as the IBM Ready App for Industrial, Connected Home enables users to control and configure devices throughout their home like setting the thermostat, arming the in-home alarm system, turning lights on or off, and setting/adjusting appliance settings. In addition, users can also view the amount of energy a specific home device utilizes or they can see an aggregated view of all devices in the home.
In addition, the IBM Ready App for Retail, In-Store Associate will help retailers benefit from the use of an in-store performance dashboard to track productivity, look up inventory and view store maps to analyze in-store foot traffic to prioritize customer service.

"Mobile banking is changing not only how people bank, but also what they expect from their bank," Charaka Kithulegoda, CIO of Tangerine Bank, said in a statement. "Our goal is to use technology to make banking simpler, engaging, more relevant and accessible for all Canadians. Developments in mobile banking will continue to transform the industry and people's relationships with their money. IBM will help accelerate our mobile app development and provide value to our clients through richer and more engaging banking experiences."

Moreover, with the new IBM MobileFirst studios, IBM expands its mobile ecosystem, providing clients direct access to local teams of IBM mobile experts, including designers, developers, architects and consultants in locations around the globe.
Customers can work side-by-side with IBM mobile professionals to quickly conceive, design, build and deploy working prototypes. In addition, clients will be able to access the two new families of solutions announced today and benefit from capabilities, ranging from the creation of new apps to transform the retail banking customer experience to those that can changethe face of patient health care.
The new IBM MobileFirst studios further the investment in theIBM Interactive Experience Labs and are located in major global cities, including Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Bangalore, India; Beijing; Boston; Chicago; Dallas; Ehningen, Germany; Groningen, Netherlands; La Gaude, France; London; Melbourne, Australia; Mexico City; New York; Sao Paolo; Shanghai; Tokyo; and Toronto.